Subscription boxes

[Thenthatsthatthen]

I was wondering what ones people get/are they value for money? I’m not looking to spend more than £10-20 a month.

We both love the idea of them-I used to get an international snack one but I’ve cut out all snacks recently in a bid to loose some weight. I’ve also tried Birchbox but didn’t feel it was great value as I didn’t use half the stuff in it. DP got a cactus one for Christmas, but I’m not convinced we need a new cactus every month. He’s had a cheese toastie one in the past which was amazing but they closed down I believe.

I do the craft gin club one. Every month there are big money off vouchers available so a few times I’ve just cancelled and started a new membership and used a discount code.... not been stopped yet

I tried Craft Gin Club but it was expensive and you can get different kinds of gin from most supermarkets a lot cheaper than 40 quid.

My sister subscribes to GlossyBox and reckons it's value for money.

good value for money and beautiful socks: www.sockgeeks.co.uk/
Flowers: www.freddiesflowers.com/
Craft gin club offers 50% for the first 2 orders

The crochet society have past boxes for half price at the moment. Use code BF50

We have done Biscuit baron. Think it's around 90 quid for 6 months. Biscuits each month from a different country each time. There's about 8/9 packs per month presented in a box with an info booklet about the biscuits/country each month. Plus the Christmas box is musical when you open it and has a selection of of posher biscuits in by it which are really good.

I have tried:
Bloom&Wild monthly flowers for my DM. Started because of lockdown but keep up because she loves it so much.
Snacksurprise - probably the one you mentioned, good value and much loved by the kids, but v.unhealthy so stopped for now.
Mysteries in Time - history box for kids - Good but a bit samey, even for history-mad dd so stopped after 6 months
Bring A Book to Life (childrens' book and associated gubbins) - brilliant and would have continued it but my dd fell just between the available age groups, to old for the young box, not quite a confident enough reader for the older box. Will definitely do this one again in a year or so though, I thought it was really well done and good choices of books.
Skin&Me - has worked great for me, I got Rosacea and crap skin during lockdown and now glow.
Fairyloot (young adult books & associated gubbins) - bought for me even though I am definitely not a young adult because I often love books of this genre, but definitely just for the teenagers - books ALWAYS featured teenage girl with unsuspected magikal talent that would save the world as soon as she'd worked out which of the two hot guys fighting over her she was going to choose.

I would love a book subscription. There's one available from an independent bookseller that is gorgeous. (I've seen a box and it's lovely!) www.kenilworthbooks.co.uk/book-club-box-gift-a-book-treat-box/

It's £10.50 for one box or £65 for a 6 month subscription.

I have just cancelled my Glossybox as they were starting to substitute items with cheap tat. I've been a subscriber since they started out too.
I currently have a stationery subscription with Papergang which I adore. As well as an art print, notebooks and pens (which are really gorgeous, great quality and lovely gifts) you also get stamp sets, iron on patches, pin badges, reusable straws, key rings, mirrors, fridge magnets, birthday cards, writing paper, envelopes, gift tags, stencils...
Me and my dh fight over its contents every month. If anyone wants a referral code let me know and I will see if I have one.

Most cheaper subscriptions are poor value for money because the postage takes up a decent chunk of the price. Unless they're subsidised by product launchers as a marketing exercise perhaps.

I suppose it depends what you like. I something get the gin one. It is a bit expensive but as well as the gin you get a selection of premium mixers, cocktail syrups and unusual snacks, so it's not far off what it would cost in a supermarket.

You could get a more expensive one, but only get it every 2-3 months because you don't have to get them every month.

I've actually just got the first gin one for a year because I got a load of gin cheap from Drop Store so didn't need any more but the December gin one is always a bit special so worth getting.

I tried FabFitFun. I was a bit confused when I was asked to pick items as it made the cost go up quite a bit. So I paid the fee and didn't choose anything. So I got a basic box. It had some nice stuff in like a fancy cheese board (I gave it to my fil who loved it,) and a cotton waffle throw in forest green plus the inevitable eye liner pencil and other bits. I cancelled my subscription but they keep trying my card and emailing to say the payment keeps failing.

Can someone explain the "point" of subscription boxes (over and above just buying things when you need them, I mean)?

I mean, is it about a) saving money per item/getting more stuff for less b) the convenience element of not having to shop for things each time, c) getting "surprises", or d) some companies only allow subscriptions and won't sell things a-la-carte as one-offs?

I mean, I'm imagining boxes of tat arriving. Maybe I'm just cynical?

if you like cute/silly things, and pins/stationary to do with Mental Health.. then Sugar & Sloths monthly box is lovely :)

www.sugarandsloth.co.uk/product/tinyhugclub

you get a pin badge, 4/5 stationary surprises and a discount code for stuff on the website, all for £12 a month. you can upgrade to the £18 option if you want another 'sweary' pinbadge each month.

@user1477391263

Can someone explain the "point" of subscription boxes (over and above just buying things when you need them, I mean)?

I mean, is it about a) saving money per item/getting more stuff for less b) the convenience element of not having to shop for things each time, c) getting "surprises", or d) some companies only allow subscriptions and won't sell things a-la-carte as one-offs?

I mean, I'm imagining boxes of tat arriving. Maybe I'm just cynical?

i do it because its something nice for myself once a month.. and quite often i will keep/use a lot of it, but things i don't want, i keep hold of/store away and then gift along as stocking fillers, or additional little bits for the kids/teens (i prefer stationery sub boxes as i'm a stationery magpie) for birthdays, or teacher presents..etc.

We have done:
Meat box with online butcher Farmison - £36pcm but range of meat is so good and quality amazing
Marshmallows - was fun for a bit but got repetitive after a year
Biscuit Baron - stopping this as too many weird fruity flavours I don't like
Cocoa runners - interesting range of chocolate, was good for a bit
Ice cream - for 6 months from a fancy place, lots of interesting flavours but some of them a bit too off the mark all
Birchbox - realised I just wasn't interested enough in make up!
They're great gifts as you have the fun of anticipating something arriving every month.

But if you want to do/buy something nice for yourself, you could just choose and buy something any time you want from anywhere you want.

I suppose it depends whether you like random surprises and little bits like pin badges, endless notebooks etc.

I was given a goody bag from a restaurant launch the other day. There was a nice reuseable shopper, some vouchers and a jar of the restaurant's own sauce, which was good.

But then there was also a keyring, a pin badge and another piece of tat that I don't remember and I was very much 'well what should I do with these'. They'll probably sit in a drawer for a while and then I'll guiltily put them in the bin because they don't seem suitable for the charity shop or as gifts as far as I can see.

Also www.sockgeeks.co.uk gave me the voucher code LIFE20 for 20 % off for life

Freddie Flowers are having 50% of first order if you subscribe

I did Papergang for a while but it got to a point where I had enough notebooks, pencils etc so I cancelled.

A friend sent me a Lovely Box for my birthday - candles, wax melts, room spray. My house smells amazing!

I've ordered one for Dd (teen) for Christmas, it's a Papergang one.
She loved last years. I got in on the Black Friday deal, £33 for three months and it renews after that every three months if you want to continue.

I’ve had a couple from Litte Fawn Box. They’re a subscription for mum ans baby and it’s building a little stock of cute baby things and treats for me for the arrival.

It’s unnessessary but I love it!!

I have a Papergang subscription. I love it as you can never have too many nice notebooks/pads. My favourite was a leopard print 5 year diary. It's been so useful.
DW uses the cute items I don't use as prizes for her pupils (stickers, stamps, colour pens etc).

I use Freddies Flowers, and love it. It's £25 a week, but you can cancel any week you don't want flowers. I tend to get a delivery every two weeks, as most bunches last ten days of so.

As well as the flowers themselves, you get a card explaining, step by step, how to arrange them.

This weeks arrangements include three really large chrysanths three ornamental brassicas , eucalyptus and lupins.

Reposed are great (book + tea bag + snack + beauty gift).

I recently had ScrawlrBox (art supplies) but got a bit overwhelmed with them so taking a break for a bit.